Dare to Prepare: Flood Preparedness and Safety

I recently watched as many families in my area got trapped on roadways and/or saw water rush into their homes due to heavy rains from a tropical system. Like in other coastal areas, this is a somewhat frequent occurrence around here because we live in a flood-prone area.

Those of us in these areas need to be proactive about preparing for the possibility of flooding. Interestingly, floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S. In fact, a whopping 90% of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve some type of flooding. Flooding can be caused by rain, melting snow, coastal storms, storm surges, and overflows or breaches of dams and other water systems. In other words, even if you don’t live in a flood-prone area, there’s a good chance you could experience a flood.

As I do each September (which is National Preparedness Month), I’m sharing a straightforward look at a disaster preparedness topic. This Dare to Prepare post is about flood preparedness and safety. You can see all of my past Dare to Prepare posts here.

How to prepare for a flood

• Know your area’s risk. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to determine if you live, work, or travel through areas that are prone to flooding.
• Purchase (or renew) a flood insurance policy. Regular homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding. Flood coverage is available from the National Flood Insurance Program. It is important to purchase or renew one of these policies now, not when a flood is likely, because it typically takes 30 days for a new policy to go into effect. It’s a good idea to take photos of your appliances, furniture, etc. and keep these with your important documents so you have them to use should you ever need to make a claim.
• Sign up for local warning systems. If your community offers some sort of warning system (such as emergency phone calls or text messages), then sign up for it. Likewise, pay attention to any Emergency Alert System warnings and monitor a NOAA Weather Radio during bad weather.
• Assemble a disaster preparedness kit. It is a good idea to stock a larger disaster kit that can sustain your family for several days and smaller grab-and-go bags (stocked only with the essentials) that you can grab and take with you if you need to evacuate. Don’t forget things like medications and pet supplies!
• Plan evacuation routes. Sit down as a family and map out several possible evacuation routes. Have a location for meeting up designated for each route in case the family is separated at the time of the evacuation (for example, if one spouse is at work and the other at home). Keep printed maps of local roads in your grab-and-go bags in case you can’t access maps on your phone.
• Protect important documents. Store important documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, deeds, etc.) in a safe-deposit box or a safe that is fireproof and waterproof. Keep copies of these in portable, waterproof containers and create password-protected digital copies.
• Keep an eye on the weather. Regularly check the forecast and monitor for signs, such as heavy rain, that flooding may occur.
• Protect your property. Do what you can to minimize the risk your home will flood. These actions will vary based on your home, but may include decluttering drains, cleaning out gutters, installing check valves in plumbing, and installing a sump pump with a battery. It’s also a good idea to move valuables and critical utilities (such as the furnace) to higher levels to reduce the risk that they will be damaged in a flood.

What to do during a flood

• Follow the instructions of local officials. If you are told by officials to evacuate, then do so immediately! Staying put risks your safety and the safety of the rescuers who will have to come get you. If you are told to shelter in place, then do so.
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and local news stations. Stay aware of current conditions and instructions.
• Stay out of floodwaters. Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. Walking in floodwaters is dangerous because they typically contain raw sewage, industrial chemicals, and dangerous bugs and animals (like snakes and alligators, if you live here in the South). Additionally, it takes just six inches of fast-flowing water to knock you over. Driving in floodwaters is dangerous because you don’t know what is in the water or how deep it is. There may be a huge pothole that has opened up, making the water much deeper than you expect (in other words, your vehicle could go under water). There may be sharp objects in the water that will puncture your tires. Surprisingly, as little as two feet of fast-flowing water can float a car. While you’re avoiding driving through water, be sure to avoid bridges over fast-flowing water. These can wash away without warning.
• If you become trapped in a building, then go to its highest level. Get to an upper floor of a building if it is filling with water. If it doesn’t have an upper floor or the upper floor isn’t high enough, then climb to the roof and begin signaling for help. Do not climb into a closed attic! You may become trapped by rising floodwater.

How to recover after a flood

• Notify loved ones that you are safe. There are many things to be done after a flood, but first things first: Get in contact with your loved ones and let them know that you are okay.
• Listen to authorities for information and instructions. If you evacuated, then do not return home until authorities say it is safe.
• Be careful when entering your home. A number of dangers lurk in homes that have been flooded.
  • Snakes and other animals may have entered your home. Be watchful for these and wear heavy boots/gloves during cleanup.
  • You can be electrocuted if you touch wet electrical equipment, if you touch electrical equipment while you are standing in water, or if there are downed power lines. Report downed power lines to the electrical company immediately and, if you can do so safely, turn off the electricity to your home.
  • If water remains in your home, then do no wade around in it. See notes on dirty floodwater above.
• Be careful when cleaning out your home. Follow these tips when cleaning and repairing your home.
  • Wear protective clothing, including boots and gloves, when cleaning.
  • If you need to use a generator or another gasoline-powered machine, then do so outdoors and away from windows.
  • If gas or electrical appliances flooded, then don’t use them until they have been checked for safety.
  • Dispose of any food that has come into contact with floodwater.
  • Throw out items that absorb water and cannot be cleaned or disinfected, such as mattresses, carpets, and stuffed animals.
  • If your sewage system (e.g., septic tank, cesspool, pit, or leaching system) has been damaged, have it serviced as soon as possible.
  • Follow expert recommendations for cleaning up after a flood and repairing the damage. Two good resources include the Water Damage Restoration and Clean Up Checklist from the TAMU AgriLife Extension and Cleaning Up After a Flood from the UMN Extension.

Final thoughts

I hope I never have my home flood and I hope you never have your home flood. However, given that floods are so prevalent, it is wise for all of us—even those in low-risk areas—to be familiar with all of this information and take steps to be prepared.

For additional information, please visit my sources:

• Disasters and Emergencies: Floods
• Before and After a Flood
• Flood Safety
• Here’s How Dirty Flood Water Really Is

Is there anything else you would like to add? Have you experienced a flood? If so, were you prepared? How did you stay safe and what was the recovery process like? What additional tips would you share?

Shared at the following:

Farm Fresh Tuesdays, Busy Monday, Over the Moon, and Encouraging Hearts and Home.